The Business Journal
The Business Journal is a private regional business publication founded in 1988, serving the Tri-Cities TN/VA market with a monthly print magazine, digital editions, advertising, and annual recognition programs including Healthcare Heroes and 40 Under Forty.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersJohnson City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Business Journal does
The Business Journal is a privately held regional business publication founded in 1988, headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, and serving the Tri-Cities TN/VA market across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The publication produces a monthly print magazine and accompanying digital editions covering regional business news, economic analysis, executive interviews, and feature stories on local companies. Its subscriber base of 3,909 paid copies combined with 2,486 strategically placed controlled-distribution copies produces a total circulation of 6,400 and an estimated reach of 23,000+ readers per issue based on 3.5 readers per copy.
The product portfolio is anchored by the core monthly magazine and extended by several recurring annual programs: Healthcare Heroes (a 30+ year-old recognition program honoring regional healthcare professionals), 40 Under Forty (an emerging-leader recognition program), Book of Lists (an annual ranking of regional businesses), and Profiles in Business (an advertising-driven feature section). The underlying technology is a WordPress-based web platform hosted on wpengine.com, with full magazine editions distributed as downloadable PDFs and a searchable editorial archive. The site also integrates NETAR CMLS real estate listings and links to JC News & Neighbor as part of a local media network.
The business model is a hybrid of paid subscriptions and advertising/sponsorship. Subscriptions are sold annually through the website, while advertising revenue is generated via a published media kit (the 2026 edition) plus sponsorships of the Healthcare Heroes, 40 Under Forty, and Book of Lists programs. The target audience skews heavily toward regional business decision-makers: 70.2% of subscribers hold top-management positions, 78% are college graduates, 88% participate in purchasing decisions for their companies, and the average subscriber household income exceeds $150,000, making the publication an attractive vehicle for B2B advertisers seeking access to affluent, influential buyers in the Tri-Cities region.
The Business Journal firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Business Journal
- Legal name
- The Business Journal
- Website
- https://bjournal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Business Journal is a private regional business publication founded in 1988, serving the Tri-Cities TN/VA market with a monthly print magazine, digital editions, advertising, and annual recognition programs including Healthcare Heroes and 40 Under Forty.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Business Journal industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Business Trade Publication
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (51312)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Business, Financial & Trade News Publishers (MPAJADAC)
Keywords
Where The Business Journal is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johnson City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
The Business Journal business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Print and Digital Subscriptions: The publication generates revenue through paid subscriptions including both physical magazine copies and digital editions. Total paid distribution is 3,909 copies with controlled circulation of 2,486 copies, totaling 6,400 circulation.
- Advertising and Sponsorships: The Business Journal monetizes its audience of 23,000+ readers through advertising placements, media kit offerings, and sponsorship opportunities for special programs including Healthcare Heroes, 40 Under Forty, and Book of Lists.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Subscription-based publication with rates available via media kit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Business Journal product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Business Journal publishes a monthly regional business magazine covering the Tri-Cities TN/VA area, distributed in print (3,909 paid plus 2,486 controlled copies, 6,400 total) and as downloadable digital PDF editions. The publication covers regional business news, economic analysis, executive interviews, and feature stories on local companies, and monetizes its 23,000+ readership through advertising, sponsorship programs (Healthcare Heroes, 40 Under Forty, Book of Lists), and media kit sales to regional advertisers.
Product overview
The Business Journal is a single, unified regional business publication serving the Tri-Cities TN/VA area. The product portfolio consists of its core monthly magazine publication supplemented by several recurring programs including the Healthcare Heroes Partnership (annual healthcare recognition), the 40 Under Forty Program (young professional recognition), and the Book of Lists (annual business rankings). Additional offerings include Profiles in Business (advertising section), Media Kit (advertising sales resources), and subscription services. The publication focuses on regional business news, economic analysis, and community leader interviews delivered through both print and digital channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Business Journal Magazine Monthly regional business magazine distributed in print (3,909 paid and 2,486 controlled circulation copies, totaling 6,400) and as downloadable PDF digital editions, reaching 23,000+ readers in the Tri-Cities TN/VA region. Covers business news, economic analysis, executive interviews, and feature stories on local companies and organizations.
- Subscription Services Paid subscription service providing individuals and companies with monthly access to the magazine in print and digital formats, including the digital PDF edition and access to the article archive on bjournal.com.
- Healthcare Heroes Partnership
Companies that use The Business Journal
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Business Journal technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Business Journal partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- News & NeighborminorThe publication maintains a link to JC News & Neighbor (jcnewsandneighbor.com) as part of a network of local news publications in the Johnson City area.
Scale indicators6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Business Journal competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Inc. National business magazine and digital media brand focused on entrepreneurs and growing companies. Comparable business-periodical model with subscription and advertising revenue streams serving a similar executive/owner audience.
- American City Business Journals: The largest operator of regional business journals in the U.S., publishing titles across 40+ metros. It is the most direct comparable to The Business Journal, operating the same regional business-newspaper model at national scale.
- IndustryWeek: Established B2B trade publication covering manufacturing and industry. Comparable business-to-business periodical model with subscription plus advertising revenue, but with national industrial rather than regional business scope.
- Forbes: National business publication operating a subscription and advertising model targeting executives. Comparable in business-news periodical format and affluent business readership, though at vastly larger national scale.
Regional players
- Knoxville News Sentinel: Regional daily newspaper serving nearby East Tennessee with a business-news vertical. Comparable in regional business coverage focus and print-digital hybrid model, though operating at larger scale and on a different geographic footprint.
- Bristol Herald Courier: Local daily newspaper serving Bristol and the Southwest Virginia portion of the Tri-Cities market. Comparable regional newsroom with a business-coverage vertical and print-digital distribution.
Direct peers
- Tri-Cities Business News: Direct local competitor covering the same Tri-Cities TN/VA market with a business-news focus. Overlaps entirely on geography, audience, and editorial category with The Business Journal.
Others
- NETAR (Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors): Regional real estate trade body whose MLS integration appears as a service on The Business Journal's website. Comparable as a regional professional-content channel and potential advertising partner, though not a direct publishing competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Business Journal social profiles
Digital presenceThe Business Journal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Business Journal leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Business Journal funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Business Journal M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Business Journal
What does The Business Journal do?
The Business Journal publishes a monthly regional business magazine covering the Tri-Cities TN/VA area, distributed in print (3,909 paid plus 2,486 controlled copies, 6,400 total) and as downloadable digital PDF editions. The publication covers regional business news, economic analysis, executive interviews, and feature stories on local companies, and monetizes its 23,000+ readership through advertising, sponsorship programs (Healthcare Heroes, 40 Under Forty, Book of Lists), and media kit sales to regional advertisers.
Is The Business Journal a public or private company?
The Business Journal is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The Business Journal founded?
The Business Journal was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Business Journal based?
The Business Journal is headquartered in Johnson City, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Business Journal make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Print and Digital Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising and Sponsorships.
Who are The Business Journal's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Inc., American City Business Journals, IndustryWeek and Forbes. Regional players are Knoxville News Sentinel and Bristol Herald Courier. Tri-Cities Business News is listed as a direct peer. NETAR (Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors) is listed as an others.
Does The Business Journal have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Business Journal.
What industry is The Business Journal in?
The Business Journal's product category is Regional Business Trade Publication. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAM, Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJADAC, Business, Financial & Trade News Publishers. Its NAICS code is 51312 and its SIC code is 2721.